budgethttp://www.wisebread.com/taxonomy/term/1413/all
en-US9 Financial Skills Everyone Needs During Hard Timeshttp://www.wisebread.com/9-financial-skills-everyone-needs-during-hard-times
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<p>Could you live on $1,300 a month? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, that's the poverty threshold for a person under age 65. (If you're a family of four, that increases to a whopping $1,968 per month.)</p>
<p>Unless you've been there, it's hard to know what it's like to make the most out of a limited budget. But while lower-income workers use different money-management methods than the One Percenters do, they're equally valuable skills &mdash; and people of all income levels could use those methods to keep their finances on solid ground.</p>
<p>At the peak of his fame, Pablo Picasso said, &quot;I'd like to live as a poor man with lots of money.&quot; That's a wise motto to live by, no matter your income. Here are 9 ways you can do so.</p>
<h2>1. Make a Budget &mdash; And Stick to It</h2>
<p>It's tough to barely cover bills month after month, but if you make a budget and look for little ways to save some money, a little advance planning pays off big time &mdash; it can mean the difference between living comfortably and looking for change between the cushions to buy your next meal.</p>
<p>The first step to managing your money is to know how it's coming in, and where it's going. Use an accounting tool, whether it's paper and pencil or an online program like Mint, to keep tab of your income and expenses. Total all your expenses for the month and compare that to how much you earn every month. If current expenses exceed income, then you need to figure out where to cut.</p>
<h2>2. When It Comes to Saving, Every Penny Counts</h2>
<p>There's always going to be something to spend on, whether it's your faltering car engine or a costly toothache. Living on a small income can make it hard to save for a roof repair or a retirement fund, but it can be done.</p>
<ul>
<li>Ask your bank to automatically transfer funds each month &mdash; even as little as $10 &mdash; from your checking to your savings account.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>Put all your loose change into a piggy bank, then transfer it into your savings account. A nickel a day, plus $10 from your checking-account transfer, adds up to $140 a year &mdash; and over a lifetime can total many thousands of dollars.</li>
</ul>
<h2>3. Seek More Modest Housing</h2>
<p>Too many of us have larger (or more expensive) homes than we actually need. Consider downsizing to the least costly home that will meet your family's needs. If you own a home, check with your lender whether you can refinance your mortgage at a lower rate. Mortgage interest rates are at historic lows, so refinancing could save you years of payments and a good deal of money that you can stash away into savings. Or, consider renting out a room in your home or finding a roommate to reduce costs.</p>
<h2>4. Reduce Your Car Use</h2>
<p>When you're on a tight budget, you're attuned to minimizing your driving as much as possible in order to cut gas costs. The best way? Combine multiple shopping trips into one. Of course, you save even more on gas and auto maintenance if you can ditch the car and walk, bike, rollerblade, or even skateboard to the store or work.</p>
<h2>5. Make Use of Available Benefits</h2>
<p>Low and moderate-income workers can qualify every year for an Earned Income Credit on their tax returns, which can refund up to $496 for an individual and $5,450 for a family of four. You can find out if you're eligible by using the <a href="http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Earned-Income-Tax-Credit-(EITC)-%E2%80%93&mdash;Use-the-EITC-Assistant-to-Find-Out-if-You-Should-Claim-it.">IRS's EITC Assistant website</a>.</p>
<p>And don't forget to make use of health care benefits &mdash; an unexpected medical emergency can be costly, so make use of Medicaid, or hospital financial assistance, if you qualify. Also, remember that the Affordable Care Act offers government subsidies that can offset all or part of the cost of private health insurance. <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/">HealthCare.gov</a> is a good place to start.</p>
<p>There are plenty of other useful programs that provide help with a variety of things, such as utility bills or advancing your job skills. Start at the <a href="http://www.benefits.gov/">Benefits.gov</a> website to see what you could be eligible for.</p>
<h2>6. Find a Side Gig</h2>
<p>As many people with tight budgets know, one paycheck is rarely enough. Even if you already have a full-time job, a little extra income can come in handy to pay off debt, cover bills, and save for emergencies. And there are plenty of money-making ideas that won't detract from your 9-to-5 job, such as selling items on eBay or renting out your extra room on Airbnb. If you have desirable skills, freelance or consult on the side. Many side jobs have little to no start-up costs and can be done during your down time.</p>
<h2>7. Be Savvy About Health Care Costs</h2>
<p>People on tight budgets use these methods to lower medical costs:</p>
<ul>
<li>Find the lowest-cost place to purchase prescription drugs. Call and do a price check at ethnic supermarkets and discount centers, and look online at mail-order pharmacies.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>Ask your physician to consider prescribing generic drugs. Generics can cost several hundred dollars less to purchase annually than brand-name drugs &mdash; and they're thoroughly regulated by the FDA.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>If you've got a minor ailment (like the flu or an achy muscle) check out low-cost retail clinics in your area. CVS, Walgreen's, and Walmart often offer these.</li>
</ul>
<h2>8. Never Pay Full Price If You Don't Have To</h2>
<p>People with limited incomes usually can't afford to pay full price. And you should get in the habit of never doing so, either. If you're shopping retail, wait until the end of a season to buy items once they're priced half off or more. And save your receipts: Most stores will refund the difference if your purchased item's price declines within 30 days of purchase.</p>
<h2>9. Pool Resources</h2>
<p>Carpooling, sharing baby-sitting duties, and cooking pot-luck dinners are examples of ways to reduce costs by pooling resources. Can other family members live in your home and pitch in for rent? Can older kids make a few extra bucks by mowing lawns on the weekend that can be used to pay for school lunches? Communal living not only brings us closer, but also reduces expenses and creates a sense of common purpose.</p>
<p><em>What financial skills have lean times taught you? Please share in comments!</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/vanessa-richardson">Vanessa Richardson</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/9-financial-skills-everyone-needs-during-hard-times">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-1">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Personal FinanceFrugal Livingbudgetemergency fundhard timessavingTue, 06 Jan 2015 14:00:13 +0000Vanessa Richardson1275630 at http://www.wisebread.comBeware of These 5 Signs You're Becoming Less Frugalhttp://www.wisebread.com/beware-of-these-5-signs-youre-becoming-less-frugal
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<p>There comes a point in every careful spender's life when they've become so darn good at this whole frugality thing that they no longer need to track their finances so strictly. It's not that they've earned the right to splurge, but rather they've earned themselves a little leeway in those shoestring spending habits. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/47-simple-ways-to-waste-money?ref=seealso">47 Simple Ways to Waste Money</a>)</p>
<p>Read on for our round-up of the sure-fire signs that you've mastered the trade of frugal living &mdash; and won the right to let loose.</p>
<h2>1. You Pass Up on Couponing</h2>
<p>It used to be that you'd dine out only with coupons in hand. But lately you've been choosing restaurants by choice rather than special offer. Because where's the joy in a good deal if you're not getting what you want? You're still getting your bang for your buck by skipping the appetizers and ordering dishes that make for great leftovers, only now you're enjoying the added bonus of eating where and what you're in the mood for.</p>
<p>Passing up on couponing isn't just a sign of becoming less frugal, it's also a sign of the times. No matter your financial situation, there's less reason to use coupons today more than ever. <a href="http://business.time.com/2013/02/28/why-americans-are-cutting-coupons-out-of-their-lives/">Coupons for restaurant meals and groceries have dropped off by 7%</a> in recent years, research shows. At the same time, there's been an increase in the number of coupons for items that consumers are less likely to need on a regular basis, like cough drops or wall paint. Not only that, but coupons are also becoming less generous, offering smaller discounts.</p>
<h2>2. You've Revamped Your Budget</h2>
<p>Your original penny-wise budget included the leanest figures ever. But after careful consideration, you've decided to up the ante and allow yourself a little breathing room. You know, for Sunday afternoon ice cream cones and such.</p>
<p>&quot;<a href="http://yoprowealth.com/do-you-need-a-budget/">Living on a strict budget is not fun</a>,&quot; advises R. Joseph Ritter, Jr., president of Zacchaeus Financial Counseling. &quot;Trying to make it work for a long time is emotionally draining. Intentionally build a small expense in the budget for a weekend away, new gadget, or some other reward that doesn't kill the budget. Anticipating a trip or new purchase takes the drudgery out of budgeting.&quot;</p>
<h2>3. You're Buying Berries Again</h2>
<p>The $7 price tag used to faze you, but now you're recalculating the cost versus health benefits of a pint of blueberries.</p>
<p>&quot;Unhealthy food is indeed often more accessible and cheaper than healthy alternatives,&quot; writes Nerd Fitness blogger Taylor. &quot;Unfortunately, it's these very foods that make us unhealthy and overweight, causing all sorts of incredibly expensive medical problems down the road.&quot;</p>
<p>Instead of looking at the price per calorie (&quot;I got soo many french fries, what a great deal!&quot;), Taylor suggests we seek out foods with the best price per nutrient &mdash; <a href="http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/12/27/cheap-and-healthy-food/">the greatest amount of nutrients for the least amount of money</a>. And while blueberries are usually expensive, they're one of the world's greatest natural antioxidants with countless health and body benefits. When you start realizing that healthy eating is an important investment in your future, you know you're on the right track to building a wiser budget.</p>
<h2>4. You're Spending More on Things You'll Get a Lot of Use From</h2>
<p>You've learned that sometimes, it's best to pay up. A good mattress, a quality pair of jeans &mdash; these are things worth spending a little extra on because you want them to last.</p>
<p>&quot;Consider usage time,&quot; writes reporter Regina Lewis in a story for USA TODAY. &quot;The average American sleeps roughly a third of their lifetime. That's eight-and-half hours a night, or more than 3,000 hours a year. From that perspective, a top-of-the line memory foam mattress for <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/07/13/money-quick-tips-when-to-spend-more/2513593/">$2,000 to $3,000, seems like money well spent</a>.</p>
<p>&quot;A similar case can be made for not skimping on smartphones. The average American now checks their phone 150 times a day &mdash; about once every six minutes. On a cost-per-usage basis, they're a relative steal.&quot;</p>
<h2>5. You're No Longer Averse to Splitting the Bill &mdash; Even If Your Order Cost Less</h2>
<p>You've realized that the people in your life are worth more than the $7 you'll save if you get separate checks at dinner. Sometimes it's easier &mdash; and more socially appealing &mdash; to split the bill down the middle, even when it means shelling out the few extra bucks.</p>
<p>&quot;Life isn't necessarily about even exchanges, so it's not always going to work out to the penny,&quot; said Seattle etiquette consultant Mary Mitchell. &quot;But I think what's important is the intent of it. People who are that stingy are probably <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/foodwine/2003847096_billsplitting22.html">stingy with their spirit</a> as well.&quot;</p>
<p><em>Are you losing your frugal edge? What are the signs?</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/brittany-lyte">Brittany Lyte</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/beware-of-these-5-signs-youre-becoming-less-frugal">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-2">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Frugal LivingbudgetfrugalityspendingspendthriftFri, 21 Nov 2014 13:00:10 +0000Brittany Lyte1257594 at http://www.wisebread.comBest Money Tips: Ways to Reduce Your Clothing Budgethttp://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-ways-to-reduce-your-clothing-budget
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<p>Welcome to Wise Bread's <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/topic/best-money-tips">Best Money Tips</a> Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on ways to reduce your clothing budget, reasons to get renter's insurance, and budgeting on a variable income.</p>
<h2>Top 5 Articles</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.enemyofdebt.com/five-ways-to-reduce-your-clothing-budget/">Five Ways to Reduce Your Clothing Budget</a> &mdash; If you want to reduce your clothing budget, visit consignment shops and thrift stores. [Enemy of Debt]</p>
<p><a href="http://andthenwesaved.com/renters-insurance/">10 Very Good Reasons to Get Renter's Insurance</a> &mdash; Renter's insurance is affordable and will protect you from theft, so get it! [And Then We Saved]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2014/10/01/how-i-budget-with-a-variable-income-2/">How I Budget on a Variable Income</a> &mdash; When budgeting on a variable income, make sure you have a checking account cushion. [Get Rich Slowly]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2014/09/29/student-loan-reality-check/">Student Loan Reality Check</a> &mdash; Before you take out a student loan, think about if you are getting the right degree for your chosen field. [Five Cent Nickel]</p>
<p><a href="http://sustainablepersonalfinance.com/simple-step-to-save-money/">One Simple Step to Save Money on Nearly Everything</a> &mdash; Before you hire a professional to do a simple task, consider Googling how to do it then doing it yourself! [Sustainable Personal Finance]</p>
<h2>Other Essential Reading</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.popsugar.com/food/Easy-Work-Lunch-Recipes-13491705">17 Good-Looking Lunches to Bring to Work</a> &mdash; Consider taking a turkey club sandwich or a kale caesar salad to work for lunch. [PopSugar Smart Living]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.frugalconfessions.com/uncategorized-2/college-students-can-make-money-writing.php">How College Students Can Make Money Writing</a> &mdash; College students can make money writing by checking out job boards or becoming freelancers. [Frugal Confessions]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.carefulcents.com/freelancing-is-more-secure-full-time-job/">3 Reasons Freelancing Is More Secure Than a Full-Time Job</a> &mdash; Freelancing can help you cultivate new skills that will help you be successful in the real world. [Careful Cents]</p>
<p><a href="http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/much-average-household-spends-food/">How Much the Average Household Pays for Food</a> &mdash; Did you know some people spend an average of almost $775 per month on food? [Sweating The Big Stuff]</p>
<p><a href="http://parentingsquad.com/fevers-when-to-worry-and-how-to-treat">Fevers: When to Worry and How to Treat</a> &mdash; If your baby has a temperature over 100.4 degrees, you should call the doctor. [Parenting Squad]</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ashley-jacobs">Ashley Jacobs</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-ways-to-reduce-your-clothing-budget">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-3">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Shoppingbest money tipsbudgetclothingFri, 03 Oct 2014 19:00:06 +0000Ashley Jacobs1226298 at http://www.wisebread.comBest Money Tips: Clean Your Home on a Budgethttp://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-clean-your-home-on-a-budget
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<p>Welcome to Wise Bread's <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/topic/best-money-tips">Best Money Tips</a> Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on ways to clean your home on a budget, getting started early with holiday savings, and signs your resume is holding you back.</p>
<h2>Top 5 Articles</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.listenmoneymatters.com/clean-budget/">17 Ways to Clean Your Home on a Budget</a> &mdash; To clean your home on a budget, dust using dryer sheets and use baking soda as a carpet deodorizer. [Listen Money Matters]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.narrowbridge.net/holiday-savings/">Geting Started Early With Holiday Savings</a> &mdash; Save up now to avoid the debt you might encounter due to holiday shopping. [NarrowBridge Finance]</p>
<p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/29/5-signs-your-resume-is-holding-you-back?int=a3ec09">5 Signs Your Resume Is Holding You Back</a> &mdash; If your resume is three or more pages, it's probably holding you back. [US News &amp; World Report]</p>
<p><a href="http://money.msn.com/personal-finance/9-things-you-should-buy-generic">9 Things You Should Buy Generic</a> &mdash; You should probably buy pantry supplies and over the counter medication generic. [MSN Money]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.investopedia.com/partner/gobankingrates/articles/personal-finance/092614/10-mistakes-avoid-when-trying-save-money.asp">10 Mistakes to Avoid When Trying to Save Money</a> &mdash; When trying to save money, don't make the mistake of not budgeting or not setting specific goals. [Investopedia]</p>
<h2>Other Essential Reading</h2>
<p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/09/24/pf/unlimited-vacation-days-branson/index.html?iid=SF_PF_River">Very Few Companies Offer Unlimited Vacation Days, But These Do</a> &mdash; Did you know Groupon and Evernote offer unlimited vacation days? [CNN Money]</p>
<p><a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/four-steps-to-a-debt-free-college-degree-123556819.html">Four Steps to a Debt-Free College Degree</a> &mdash; Choosing a college you can afford can help you get a debt-free college education. [Yahoo Finance]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Career-Lessons-From-Cats-26940317">6 Purrfect Career Lessons From Cats</a> &mdash; Cats can teach you the career lesson of teaching yourself and taking the initiative. [PopSugar Smart Living]</p>
<p><a href="http://ptmoney.com/how-to-earn-a-living-as-an-actor/">On Stage or Screen: Here&rsquo;s How to Earn a Living as an Actor</a> &mdash; If you want to get by as an actor, you'll need to keep your expenses low and have diverse sources of income. [PT Money]</p>
<p><a href="http://parentingsquad.com/11-ways-to-promote-healthy-eating-in-your-home">11 Ways to Promote Healthy Eating in Your Home</a> &mdash; Eating meals at home and making food interesting can help promote healthy eating in your home. [Parenting Squad]</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ashley-jacobs">Ashley Jacobs</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-clean-your-home-on-a-budget">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-4">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Homebest money tipsbudgetcleanhomeWed, 01 Oct 2014 19:00:08 +0000Ashley Jacobs1224395 at http://www.wisebread.com3 Things That Always, Always Go Over-Budgethttp://www.wisebread.com/3-things-that-always-always-go-over-budget
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<p>There are always costs that we don't anticipate. While we can't think of everything, we can plan for the known unknowns, and create a budget buffer for the incidentals we can't predict when undertaking these three things that always, always go over budget. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/this-is-why-you-always-think-things-will-cost-less-than-they-do?ref=seealso">This Is Why You Think Things Cost Less Than They Always Do</a>)</p>
<h2>Moving</h2>
<p>Why is moving a budget buster? First, you must buy boxes and pack. You might run late, and have to add packing service to your hired movers' package. Some of the furniture won't break down as easily, so you must get help to disassemble and reassemble the furniture. The movers need to take one more trip than expected. You have to buy or rent cleaning products or hire a maid service to scrub up the old place. You offered to buy pizzas for your friends who helped you move. You might need help unpacking the new place. This is not including the <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-avoid-moving-scams">rent and deposit</a> or money down and mortgage on the new home!</p>
<h3>Staying on Budget</h3>
<p>First, start <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/10-ways-to-save-on-a-long-distance-move">preparing for your move</a> at least 30 days from the moving date so you don't run out of time. This prevents having to cough up fees for last minute add-ons.</p>
<p>Make an inventory of what you're moving, by room. This will force you to go through your stuff and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/declutter-your-home-in-10-minutes">throw away</a> what you don't need to move in the first place, which will immediately decrease the number of boxes you must buy and how long the movers are working &mdash; especially good if you are the mover!</p>
<p>Boxes. Get them at your local grocery, dollar, or general store. They will happily <em>give</em> you any extra boxes from the stockroom. You will still need to buy special boxes for electronics and other fragile items, but fewer of them.</p>
<p>Instead of hiring a full-service moving company, <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/what-to-know-when-renting-a-moving-truck">rent your own truck</a> and hire several local college students. Pay the college kids a flat rate plus one meal instead of an hourly rate. This will ensure that they will finish as fast as they can!</p>
<h2>Weddings</h2>
<p>One of the many things people neglect to tell you is how expensive a wedding is. Young couples are increasingly paying themselves, but have no idea how to start getting quotes. The venue needs insurance, then it requires a specific caterer and a valet. The flowers end up costing way more than expected because you had your heart set on roses at a winter wedding. The place cards cost more to print than anticipated. Because there are so many details the Wedding Industrial Complex forces on you, the are so many tiny ways the budget can get away from you.</p>
<h3>Staying on Budget</h3>
<p>First, both bride and groom should agree upon a budget and create a budget spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is the decision maker on all wedding expenses. There should be a &quot;target ceiling&quot; and a &quot;hard ceiling.&quot; Shoot for the lower target ceiling, but if something becomes more expensive than planned, you'll have a small buffer. Nothing goes past the hard ceiling.</p>
<p>Start with the three items most meaningful to you both. For example, if the food, music, and photography mean the most to you, allocate the most funds to those items. That way, when the florist tells you her services will cost $3,000, you can look at the budget and decide its worth more effectively.</p>
<p>Learn to say no to family, friends, Pinterest, and especially yourself. Think back to the last wedding you attended. Do you remember exactly what the centerpieces looked like? Remember your three priorities. Even if your centerpieces are simple, that amazing photographer you splurged on will make everything look magical.</p>
<p>Also, find ways to cut corners on the less crucial things.</p>
<ul>
<li>Do your RSVPs on a website like <a href="http://www.appycouple.com/">Appy Couple</a> or <a href="http://glosite.com/">Glo</a> to save on postage and printing RSVP cards.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>Don't want to hire a separate bartending company? <a href="http://offbeatbride.com/2012/04/what-to-ask-your-venue-caterer">Ask your venue</a> if you can BYOB, so you can buy exactly what you need and premix drinks.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>Care about having a great time but don't care about the time of day.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>Many venues are cheaper on Sunday mornings or Friday evenings; ask for those times and you may get up to 20% off on venue rental.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>Want to look gorgeous but don't need to own the look? Rent your <a href="https://www.renttherunway.com/rtr_home">wedding dress</a> or <a href="https://theblacktux.com/">tux</a>!</li>
</ul>
<h2>Family Vacations</h2>
<p>Incidentals like daily meals and entertainment always rack up the charges. Other charges such as booking fees, docking fees, hotel taxes, the cost of renewing your passport (and in my case, the rush order fees for the passport), and pet fees, childcare, and more all add up. Plus, you have to build in a safety budget for emergencies like natural disasters, airline losing your luggage, and injuries incurred while you're hiking the Andes.</p>
<h3>Staying on Budget</h3>
<p>The first step is choosing a location that is off the beaten path. You should <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/7-popular-vacation-spots-that-arent-worth-the-money-and-where-to-go-instead">avoid the obvious</a> and popular locations that are not worth the extra expense. Then, make a <a href="http://www.budgetworksheets.org/worksheet/vacation-travel">vacation budget spreadsheet</a> that will keep you on track in anticipating all your costs.</p>
<p>Find ways to plan your vacation a la carte to save money on all-inclusive resort prices. Find a good <a href="http://www.cheapflightsfinder.com/best-times-to-fly.htm">off-season time to fly</a>. Use <a href="http://airbnb.com">Airbnb</a> or <a href="http://www.vrbo.com/">VRBO</a> to book a condo in the vacation city to save on hotel rates and applicable taxes. If you rent a condo, you can also buy meals from a local grocery store to make breakfast and bagged lunches at the rental, then splurge on a nice dinner out.</p>
<p>Can't get the family to decide on a place you can afford? Try sending your children to a fun summer camp, then the parents can have a classy staycation or go on a more affordable series of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/make-your-escape-with-these-14-affordable-weekend-getaways">weekend trips</a>. It will add up to less than one long two-week vacation for an entire family.</p>
<p>Don't really have the budget for a vacation at all? Try these really <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/8-great-cheap-summer-vacations">low cost vacations</a> that are still awesome.</p>
<p><em>What purchases or events always bust your budget? Please share in comments!</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/amanda-meadows">Amanda Meadows</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/3-things-that-always-always-go-over-budget">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-5">
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/the-7-worst-financial-excuses-that-are-keeping-you-poor">The 7 Worst Financial Excuses That Are Keeping You Poor</a></span>
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</div> </div><br/></br>Frugal LivingbudgetmovingplanningspendingvacationsweddingsTue, 09 Sep 2014 13:00:04 +0000Amanda Meadows1207210 at http://www.wisebread.comIf You're Doing These 5 Things, Your Saving Efforts Are for Nothinghttp://www.wisebread.com/if-youre-doing-these-5-things-your-saving-efforts-are-for-nothing
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<p>It's not easy to save. We average earners live on razor-thin margins and have trouble even imagining saving. Once we start saving, something &quot;comes up&quot; and the savings begin to diminish. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/the-10-things-everyone-should-be-saving-for?ref=seealso">The 10 Things Everyone Should Be Saving Saving For</a>)</p>
<p>And all of that can feel okay if the savings are slowly accumulating over time. But the most soul-crushing setbacks take us back to zero, and negate all the hard work we're putting in. These are the ones that to be avoided at all costs. So take a close look at this list, because if you're doing these five things, your saving efforts are for nothing.</p>
<h2>1. Saving Without an Investment Account</h2>
<p>Yes, it's hard to start investing. There are so many options and so many types of accounts. What are small caps, even? But here's the thing: A savings account is only a piggy bank. An investment account has a snowball effect. Over time, if you choose the right plan for your goals, your money can grow far beyond the rate your checking and savings institution provides. If you can have pulled from your paycheck pre-tax, you will come out ahead on income taxes. Another plus? You can't sneak money out without incurring penalties, so it's there for good. <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/7-ways-investing-sucks-and-why-you-should-do-it-anyway">Learn more about investments</a> like mutual funds, bonds, and more and get your money working for you in the long term.</p>
<h2>2. Buying Big Ticket Items on Credit Cards</h2>
<p>An important tip to avoid losing your savings is to only buy what you can afford in liquid cash. This means big ticket items such as furniture, appliances, and cars should not be financed or purchased on a credit card. The interest you will end up paying in the long run will eventually outstrip how much you're putting away in savings. Unless you're expecting a windfall, this could potentially lead to having to prison break your funds and starting from scratch. Learn how to <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/never-use-your-credit-card-to-pay-for-these-10-things">avoid credit card debt</a> on large purchases.</p>
<h2>3. Tapping Into Your Retirement Fund</h2>
<p>Let's say you do have an investment account. It's easy to get tempted by the large juicy number in your IRA or 401(k) when in a pinch. Retirement accounts do allow for loans or withdrawals on account of &quot;hardship&quot; &mdash; a financial emergency that cannot be predicted. However, consider what a hardship really is. If the reason is not an unexpected death, natural disaster, or even a mortgage crisis, then you should not pull funds from your investments. In the end, you are only short-changing yourself. The average person expects to continue <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2014/05/12/the-ideal-retirement-age-and-why-you-wont-retire-then">working until age 66</a>. Will you be able to support yourself during retirement if you tap into your fund?</p>
<h2>4. Not Using a Budgeting Program</h2>
<p>One of the easiest ways to maintain a regular savings schedule is to use a budgeting program like <a href="https://pearbudget.com/">Pear Budget</a> or <a href="https://www.mint.com/">Mint</a> to ensure you are not overspending. Set a goal amount, then work backwards to figure out how much you should save each week or month. Then stick to it! A great plus is that you can also use the same tools to plan vacations, weddings, arrival of a baby, and more. As life changes, your budget tracker will tell you the story of your spending habits. You can revise the budget when you see differences in your spending.</p>
<h2>5. Not Creating a Buffer for Emergencies</h2>
<p>Emergencies happen. Unfortunately, one can easily conflate a savings goal with the idea of saving for a rainy day. Remember what you are saving toward &mdash; whether it be a home, retirement, or a new dirtbike. Consider what would happen to that awesome goal if you had a car accident, or if the TV breaks. Don't want to lose ground after working so hard? A separate account that is only for emergencies should contain at least $1000 but <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/figuring-the-size-of-your-emergency-fund">three months' salary is ideal</a>. Once you've made the account, forget about it until danger strikes.</p>
<p><em>Are you making any of these spending and budgeting mistakes? Are they harming your savings?</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/amanda-meadows">Amanda Meadows</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/if-youre-doing-these-5-things-your-saving-efforts-are-for-nothing">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-6">
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/book-review-spend-til-the-end">Book review: Spend &#039;til The End</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/5-inspiring-people-who-each-paid-off-over-100000-in-debt">5 Inspiring People Who Each Paid Off Over $100,000 in Debt</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/21-things-that-young-adults-absolutely-need-to-know-about-money">21 Things That Young Adults Absolutely Need to Know About Money</a></span>
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</div> </div><br/></br>Personal FinancebudgetcreditinvestingsavingspendingMon, 08 Sep 2014 13:00:03 +0000Amanda Meadows1205242 at http://www.wisebread.comBest Money Tips: Strategies for Fixing Common Budget Problemshttp://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-strategies-for-fixing-common-budget-problems
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<p>Welcome to Wise Bread's <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/topic/best-money-tips">Best Money Tips</a> Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on strategies for fixing budget problems, simple DIY frugal tips, and smart money moves for college students.</p>
<h2>Top 5 Articles</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/nine-strategies-for-fixing-common-budget-problems/">Nine Strategies for Fixing Common Budget Problems</a> &mdash; If your budget categories estimates are off, start your budget from scratch. [The Simple Dollar]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/10-easy-diy-frugal-tips.html">7 Dead Simple DIY Frugal Tips</a> &mdash; Cooking your own meals and growing a garden can help you save money. [Bargaineering]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2014/08/21/5-smart-money-moves-first-time-college-students-should-make/">5 Smart Money Moves First-Time College Students Should Make</a> &mdash; College students should be sure to start building a cushion and establish credit. [Money Talks News]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.moneycrashers.com/tips-stop-being-ashamed-debt/">6 Tips to Stop Being Ashamed of Your Debt and Take Control</a> &mdash; Take control of your debt by educating yourself and making a payoff plan. [Money Crashers]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.threethriftyguys.com/2014/08/how-to-get-rid-of-junk-mail-for-good/">How to Get Rid of Junk Mail (for Good)</a> &mdash; Are you sick of getting junk mail? Consider checking out PaperKarma. [Three Thrifty Guys]</p>
<h2>Other Essential Reading</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2014/08/why-people-have-money-problems.html">Why People Have Money Problems</a> &mdash; People who spend too much on housing tend to have money problems. [Free Money Finance]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/spending/T050-S001-worst-things-to-buy-on-amazon/index.html?si=1">Worst Things to Buy on Amazon</a> &mdash; It's probably not a good idea to buy athletic shoes from Amazon. [Kiplinger]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/Random-Acts-Kindness-Ideas-34351861">109 Random Acts of Kindness You Can Start Doing Today</a> &mdash; Paying the toll for the car behind you and smiling at people are just a couple random acts of kindness you can start doing today. [PopSugar Smart Living]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.creditsesame.com/blog/affordable-care-act-save-free-wellness-checkup/">Save on Healthcare Costs With Free Wellness Checkup &amp; Preventative Care</a> &mdash; Have you ever taken advantage of free wellness clinics? [Credit Sesame]</p>
<p><a href="http://parentingsquad.com/4-reasons-to-vaccinate-your-children">4 Reasons to Vaccinate Your Children</a> &mdash; Vaccinating your kids protects your family and your community. [Parenting Squad]</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ashley-jacobs">Ashley Jacobs</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-strategies-for-fixing-common-budget-problems">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-7">
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/9-problems-you-cant-solve-with-money">9 Problems You Can&#039;t Solve With Money</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/financial-iq-test-how-healthy-is-your-budget">FINANCIAL IQ TEST: How Healthy Is Your Budget?</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/plan-for-your-wants">Plan for your wants</a></span>
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<li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even">
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/it-takes-a-frugal-spouse-to-make-a-frugal-home">It takes a frugal spouse to make a frugal home</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/9-financial-skills-everyone-needs-during-hard-times">9 Financial Skills Everyone Needs During Hard Times</a></span>
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</div> </div><br/></br>Personal Financebest money tipsbudgetproblemsstrategiesMon, 25 Aug 2014 19:00:03 +0000Ashley Jacobs1192508 at http://www.wisebread.comBest Money Tips: Plan a July 4th Blowout on a Budgethttp://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-plan-a-july-4th-blowout-on-a-budget
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<p>Welcome to Wise Bread's <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/topic/best-money-tips">Best Money Tips</a> Roundup! Today we found some wonderful articles on ways to plan a July 4th blowout on a budget, how bridesmaids can avoid going broke, and small business ideas for kids.</p>
<h2>Top 5 Articles</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.smartasset.com/blog/money-saving-tip/6-ways-to-plan-a-july-4th-blowout-on-a-budget/">6 Ways to Plan a July 4th Blowout on a Budget</a> &mdash; Having a potluck and opting for BYOB can make your July 4th celebration a frugal one. [SmartAsset Blog]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/How-Bridesmaids-Can-Save-Money-28761369">8 Ways Bridesmaids Can Avoid Going Broke</a> &mdash; To avoid going broke as a bridesmaid, be smart about gift giving and do your own makeup and hair. [POPSUGAR Smart Living]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/10-small-business-ideas-for-kids/">10 Small Business Ideas for Kids</a> &mdash; If your child wants to start a business, consider having them try walking dogs or mowing lawns. [Bible Money Matters]</p>
<p><a href="http://christianpf.com/ways-to-give-cash/?hvid=43mAc">26 Ways to Give Cash You've Never Thought Of</a> &mdash; Do you like to give people cash as a gift? Make it a little more special by giving it in a money bouquet. [Christian PF]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.moneyunder30.com/things-soccer-can-teach-you-about-money">Funny Money: 5 Things Soccer Can Teach You About Money</a> &mdash; When it comes to money, soccer can teach you that your head is your best weapon. [Money Under 30]</p>
<h2>Other Essential Reading</h2>
<p><a href="http://moneyning.com/budgeting/while-youre-planning-for-tomorrow-dont-forget-to-live-for-today/">While You're Planning for Tomorrow, Don't Forget to Live for Today</a> &mdash; Sometimes it's ok to splurge if your splurge is intentional. [MoneyNing]</p>
<p><a href="http://livingonthecheap.com/avoid-vacation-rental-scams/">How to Avoid Vacation Rental Scams</a> &mdash; When it comes to vacation rentals, keep in mind that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. [Living on the Cheap]</p>
<p><a href="http://cashmoneylife.com/imrpove-small-business-results/">Improve Your Small Business Results with Mindfulness</a> &mdash; Taking breaks and delegating can improve your small business results. [Cash Money Life]</p>
<p><a href="http://couponpal.com/blog/5-reasons-you-should-be-composting">5 Reasons You Should Be Composting</a> &mdash; Did you know composting makes your fruits and veggies taste better? [CouponPal Blog]</p>
<p><a href="http://parentingsquad.com/5-not-so-sweet-summer-treats-for-kids">5 Not-So-Sweet Summer Treats for Kids</a> &mdash; If you need a refreshing treat for your kids this summer, give them frozen banana pops. [Parenting Squad]</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ashley-jacobs">Ashley Jacobs</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-plan-a-july-4th-blowout-on-a-budget">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-8">
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/never-pay-for-a-redbox-dvd-rental-again">Never Pay for a RedBox DVD Rental Again</a></span>
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</div> </div><br/></br>Entertainmentbest money tipsblowoutbudgetJuly 4thpartyTue, 24 Jun 2014 19:00:05 +0000Ashley Jacobs1147198 at http://www.wisebread.com20+ Freebies for College Students http://www.wisebread.com/20-freebies-for-college-students
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<p>&quot;This is the worst possible year to graduate from college in history.&quot;</p>
<p>I heard this exact same phrase back in 2002, then again in 2007, and yet again in 2009 as I completed my university studies in those years. Yet, I found that there was no need to be so gloomy. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/8-financial-to-dos-for-college-freshmen?ref=seealso">8 Financial To-Dos for College Freshmen</a>)</p>
<p>Yes, college costs are still on the rise. But college life is full of exciting opportunities and, more importantly, full of savings. You just have to look in the right places. Here are 25 ways to take advantage of those savings.</p>
<h2>Entertainment</h2>
<p style="font-size: 13px;">All work and no play makes Jack a dull student. Start off with these fun freebies.</p>
<h3>1. Lunch and Dinner</h3>
<p style="font-size: 13px;">Getting a cheap meal doesn't mean limiting yourself to tuna sandwiches and ramen noodles for your entire school life. By joining on-campus clubs and organizations, you may be able to score free lunches and dinners several times a week. Even if you just attend one club meeting a week, you could save as much as $50 a month in food. Another way to get free meals is to volunteer for alumni association events and attend student club evening mixers.</p>
<h3>2. Free Soda</h3>
<p style="font-size: 13px;">Several fast food chains, such as Chipotle and Chick-Fil-A, offer free sodas to customers that show a valid student ID. Don't hesitate to ask before making your purchase.</p>
<h3>3. Washington Post</h3>
<p style="font-size: 13px;">If you enjoy reading the Washington Post with your morning coffee, then get&nbsp;<a href="https://account.washingtonpost.com/actmgmt/registration/get-nonpaid-access">free digital access</a>&nbsp;with your .edu email.</p>
<h3>4. Movies</h3>
<p style="font-size: 13px;">Student campuses across America host free movie nights during nights at quads or campus centers. Check the campus events calendar for movie listings and enjoy a night out with your friends. (See also:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wisebread.com/you-never-need-to-pay-to-watch-movies-heres-why?ref=seealso">You Never Need to Pay to Watch Movies</a>)</p>
<h3>5. Museum Admission</h3>
<p style="font-size: 13px;">Several museums offer free admission to exhibit halls to holders of a valid university ID on certain days. Some examples are the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mfa.org/membership/universities">Boston Museum of Fine Art</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.philamuseum.org/education/273-233.html">Philadelphia Museum of Art</a>. Make sure to check the website of your local museums for specific days and times.</p>
<h3>6. Sporting Event Tickets</h3>
<p style="font-size: 13px;">Several universities, such as my&nbsp;<em>alma mater</em>, the&nbsp;<a href="http://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/2010/12/7/GEN_1207100846.aspx?tab=studenttickets">University of Hawaii</a>, offer free sports tickets to current students with valid student IDs. My school even offers free bus rides to the football stadium and back to the campus.&nbsp;Make sure to check if you qualify for free tickets and get them early because they go fast.</p>
<h2>School Supplies and Tools</h2>
<p>You spend enough money as it is on books and supplies &mdash; here is how to stretch those dollars.</p>
<h3>7. Amazon Student</h3>
<p>Free for the first six months, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/student/signup/info/?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;tag=wisbre03-20&amp;linkId=SAM2O7RD2U33ON3D">Amazon Student</a> provides free two-day shipping on millions items. Also, Amazon rewards you with a $10 credit for every friend that you refer to this program. There is no cap on the amount of credits you can get, so become the big man on campus by spreading the word to your buddies about Amazon Student. After the six-month free trial, you get the chance to sign up for Amazon Prime at 50% off.</p>
<h3>8. Printing</h3>
<p>There are two ways to spend the least possible on printing. The first one is to check with your instructor if you can submit your files digitally. The second one is to take advantage of the technology fee that you are most likely already paying. Check with your student union to find out which computer labs allow you to print for free and what the daily limits on free printing are</p>
<h3>9. Autodesk Software</h3>
<p>Engineering, architecture, animation, and design students rejoice. There is no need to get illegal copies anymore &mdash; you can get free Autodesk software with your valid .edu email. The <a href="http://www.autodesk.com/education/free-software/students-university/all-products">list of free 57 Autodesk programs</a> includes the very popular 3ds Max, AutoCAD, Inventor Professional, Maya, Revit, and Fusion 360.</p>
<h3>10. Microsoft Software</h3>
<p>Microsoft is giving away its Windows operating system and other <a href="https://www.dreamspark.com/Student/Software-Catalog.aspx">premium software</a>, such as <a href="https://www.dreamspark.com/Student/Default.aspx">Visual Studio Professional suite</a>, at no cost to university students with a valid .edu email. If you are in the field of computer programming, you can use some of that free software to submit your entry to <a href="https://www.imaginecup.com">Microsoft's ImagineCup</a>, a global student technology competition. The prizes start at $1,000 and, if your team makes to the finals, include a trip to Seattle and a chance for a private meeting with Bill Gates.</p>
<h3>11. Welcome Back Events</h3>
<p>College bookstores often host these events during the first week of the fall semester to welcome returning students and freshmen. These events are great for scoring goodies ranging from notebooks to highlighters to pens. Stock up on free school supplies that you can use throughout the semester.</p>
<h2>Money Matters</h2>
<p>From insurance to banking to tax preparation, here are some freebies that college students can get.</p>
<h3>12. Checking Accounts</h3>
<p>On your first week on campus, you have to find out whether your university has a credit union. University credit unions often offer free checking and savings accounts without any monthly fees to students. Some even provide free debit cards and online bill pay. By setting up your checking account at your local credit union, you can be in your way to building a strong financial foundation and be eligible for a line of credit in the near future.</p>
<h3>13. Health Insurance</h3>
<p>Even if you are attending school and financially independent from your parents, as long as you are <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/can-i-keep-my-child-on-my-insurance-until-age-26/">younger than 26 years old</a>, you can be kept on your parent's health insurance policy.</p>
<h3>14. Bitcoin</h3>
<p>Students with a valid .edu email may be eligible for a <a href="http://blog.coinbase.com/post/85758038492/10-of-free-bitcoin-for-college-students">free $10 in bitcoin</a>. The offer is from Coinbase, one of the most popular bitcoin wallets in the U.S. By signing up for a new Coinbase account with your .edu email, you get $10 worth in bitcoin and $1 for each person referred. Some of the students that have taken advantage of this offer include those from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Texas at Austin, UCLA, and UC Berkeley. With the current market value of a single bitcoin in the upper $600's, you could see a nice return on those free coins. Just keep an eye on the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140516185817-22868355-5-takeaways-from-irs-notice-2014-21-for-bitcoin-users">tax rules when using a cryptocurrency</a>.</p>
<h3>15. International Travel Insurance</h3>
<p>If you already own an <a href="http://www.myisic.com">International Student Identity Card</a> issued in the U.S., then you already have <a href="http://www.myisic.com/Travel/Insurance.html">basic travel insurance</a> that covers you while abroad. This is very helpful to meet the travel insurance requirement from some universities and consulates. Some of the benefits include trip and baggage delay, repatriation of remains, and accident and sickness medical expense coverage.</p>
<h3>16. Taxes</h3>
<p>If you are a U.S. nonresident and you are receiving scholarship or fellowship grants, you may be able to adjust your taxable gross income. When all or most of your grant monies are spent on tuition, books, and university fees, then you can include an Attachment to Form 1042-S to make those grant monies exempt from taxes. Additionally, some countries, such as China and India, have <a href="http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/International-Businesses/United-States-Income-Tax-Treaties---A-to-Z">tax treaties with the U.S.</a> that allow students from those countries additional tax breaks.</p>
<h3>17. Tax Preparation</h3>
<p>During tax season, many universities offer free tax preparation services for students. Don't forget to check the requirements for eligibility, such as a maximum gross income.</p>
<h3>18. Tuition</h3>
<p>Yes, you are reading that right. While on-campus student jobs may not offer much per hour, several offer tuition waivers. Contact your local student union or student center and ask how you can look for on-campus jobs that offer tuition waivers. Some of them may be available online, but other ones may be only available through that office. Ask around!</p>
<h2>Miscellaneous Items</h2>
<p>These items don't fall into a specific category, but that doesn't mean that they are less free!</p>
<h3>19. Condoms</h3>
<p>Drop by your school's health center and stock up on many as you want. Just make sure to check the expiration date on the packaging, if available. Stay safe on the cheap.</p>
<h3>20. Counseling and Stress Management Services</h3>
<p>If this is your first time away from home, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. Combat those student blues with help from on-site professionals at no cost. Some schools are even offering <a href="http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2009/sep/biofeedback">biofeedback centers</a> to their students to help them measure and handle all levels of stress. The cost of counseling and stress management services is quite expensive outside of school, so if you need it, take advantage of these free on-campus services.</p>
<h3>21. Social Media Freebies</h3>
<p>Turn your social media influence into freebies. New York-based startup Sumpto has a reward system for students with a valid .edu email and Facebook account. The higher your <a href="http://www.sumpto.com">Sumpto score</a>, the better your rewards. If you are very active on Twitter and Facebook, you'll start getting free stuff in no time. Some of the companies that have provided freebies include Party City, Kraft, Chobani, Red Bull, and Office Depot.</p>
<p><em>What are your favorite freebies for college students? Please share in comments!</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/damian-davila">Damian Davila</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/20-freebies-for-college-students">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-9">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Frugal LivingEducation & TrainingbudgetcollegefreebiesschoolstudentWed, 11 Jun 2014 13:00:52 +0000Damian Davila1142125 at http://www.wisebread.comBest Money Tips: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on a Budgethttp://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-celebrate-cinco-de-mayo-on-a-budget
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<p>Welcome to Wise Bread's <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/topic/best-money-tips">Best Money Tips</a> Roundup! Today we found some amazing articles on celebrating Cinco de Mayo on a budget, keeping your kids entertained this summer, and tips for success on LinkedIn.</p>
<h2>Top 5 Articles</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/Cinco-de-Mayo-Budget-34693374">5 Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on a Budget</a> &mdash; To celebrate Cinco de Mayo on a budget, host your own fiesta. [PopSugar Smart Living]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2014/05/01/10-low-cost-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-this-summer/">10 Low-Cost Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained This Summer</a> &mdash; Making homemade play-doh or or drawing a life-sized portrait are just a couple ways to keep your kids entertained this summer. [Money Talks News]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thousandaire.com/5-tips-for-success-on-linkedin/">5 Tips for Success on LinkedIn</a> &mdash; Being selective with your connection requests can help you be successful on LinkedIn. [Thousandaire]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/turn-tantalizing-foreign-cuisine-budget-meals.html">Turn tantalizing foreign cuisine into budget meals</a> &mdash; Did you know many international dishes are simple to make and easy on your pocketbook? [Bargaineering]</p>
<p><a href="http://moneyqanda.com/compete-in-job-market/">How To Compete In The Current Job Market</a> &mdash; If you are trying to compete in the current job market, create a personal website and promote yourself. [Money Q&amp;A]</p>
<h2>Other Essential Reading</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.moneycrashers.com/ways-sell-home-without-open-house/">Top 6 Ways to Sell Your Home Without Hosting an Open House</a> &mdash; Offering virtual tours of your home can help you sell it without hosting an open house. [Money Crashers]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.creditsesame.com/blog/tips-for-maximizing-your-retirement-savings/">4 Quick Tips for Maximizing Your Retirement Savings</a> &mdash; Minimizing your account fees can help you maximize your retirement savings. [Credit Sesame]</p>
<p><a href="http://kiplinger.com/article/spending/T065-C000-S002-3-simple-steps-to-switch-cable-companies.html?si=1">3 Simple Steps to Switch Cable Companies</a> &mdash; If you want to switch cable companies, start by calling your current provider to see if you can get a better price. [Kiplinger]</p>
<p><a href="http://parentingsquad.com/how-to-create-an-at-home-spa-day-for-mothers-and-daughters">How to Create an At-Home Spa Day for Mothers and Daughters</a> &mdash; To create an at-home spa day, serve nourishing snacks and experiment with DIY spa treatments. [Parenting Squad]</p>
<p><a href="http://howsmarriedlife.net/social-media-rules-married-couples/">Social Media Rules for Married Couples</a> &mdash; When dealing with social media as a couple, be sure to separate business from your personal life. [How's Married Life]</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ashley-jacobs">Ashley Jacobs</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-celebrate-cinco-de-mayo-on-a-budget">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-10">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Food and Drinkbest money tipsbudgetCinco de MayoMon, 05 May 2014 08:48:22 +0000Ashley Jacobs1137787 at http://www.wisebread.comHow to Spend Less on Everything in 2014http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-spend-less-on-everything-in-2014
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<p>Did you make a resolution to spend less money and save more in 2014? You&#39;re not alone. According to research conducted at the University of Scranton and published in Journal of Clinical Psychology, this is the third most common New Year&#39;s resolution made by Americans. (The number one resolution is to lose weight followed by the resolution to get organized.)</p>
<p>We live in a &quot;buy, buy, buy&quot; culture. Retailers and society pressure us into spending with &quot;deals that can&#39;t be missed,&quot; enticing loyalty programs, coupons galore, and plenty of glossy ads everywhere we turn, online and off. So how can we keep our resolution to save more and spend less when temptation is all around us? Here are five strategies that will help. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/7-financial-moves-you-must-make-in-2014?ref=seealso">Financial Moves You Should Make This Year</a>)</p>
<h2>1. Become a DIY Ninja With Pinterest</h2>
<p>As much pressure as there is to spend money, DIY has become a trendy way to live life. Pinterest is a perfect vehicle for ideas, inspiration, and instructions for DIY home decor, clothing, crafts, gifts, and everything in between. Plus, it also gives you the platform to brag about your own DIY skills, show off what you make, and share what you learn with others.</p>
<h2>2. Make a List of What You Need &mdash; and Use It</h2>
<p>In 2013, LivePerson ran an online survey of consumers in five major Western markets. Seventy-seven percent said that they indulged in impulse buying while in-store, and 50% said they impulse shop online. Attractive displays; in-store signage that screams price savings; and appealing lighting, music, and staff can cause you to indulge on items you never intended to buy before you set foot in a store. It&#39;s a battle to stay focused, and the best weapon is a list. Write it out before you get to the store, stick to it, and don&#39;t browse. Get what you need and get out.</p>
<h2>3. Dine and Entertain at Home</h2>
<p>Dining out is a fun way to socialize with friends and colleagues. It&#39;s also an expensive one. Because menu prices have to cover the cost of running the restaurant and preparing the food, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-restaurants-mark-up-food-2013-10">restaurants mark-up dishes as much as 300%</a>. Plus, you have to add tax and tip. One of the best ways to spend less and save more is to cook your main meals at home and then meet up with friends for a drink, dessert, coffee, a walk, a movie, etc. Better yet, have them over to your place and prepare the meal together. These items still carry a mark-up as well (except for the walk!) although the mark-up is a much smaller dollar amount than what you would spend on a full meal. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/learn-to-love-cooking-and-save-with-these-11-kitchen-tricks?ref=seealso">11 Kitchen Tricks to Make Cooking Fun</a>)</p>
<h2>4. Keep Your Wardrobe Classic and Accessorize</h2>
<p>Clothing is another item that carries a huge mark-up between what the item actually costs to manufacture and the retail price. And a sale isn&#39;t always a real sale. Many retailers inflate items to a ridiculous price and then offer huge sales to make it look like you&#39;re getting a bargain.</p>
<p>The only way to fight this is to buy high quality items that last a long time, comparison shop, and keep your style classic. This way you can easily mix and match items to create new outfits, and you&#39;ll be able to wear these items longer than one season. An easy way to keep your look fresh is to have most of your clothing and shoes in neutral shades dressed up by colorful and punchy accessories. There&#39;s a hefty mark-up on accessories, too, although the actual dollar amount you spend on them is much less than most clothing items. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/the-greatest-frugal-fashion-makeover-ever-refresh-your-wardrobe-for-25-or-less?ref=seealso">Refresh Your Wardrobe for $25 or Less</a>)</p>
<h2>5. Set and Review Weekly and Monthly Savings Goals</h2>
<p>What gets measured gets done.</p>
<p>If you want to spend less and save more, you need to measure and review what you spend and what you save. Set a goal every week and every month. The moment you get paid, put that money aside and record it. Then record everything you spend. Regularly reviewing your spending and saving will keep you motivated and on-track. Once you see your bills going down and your savings grow, you&#39;ll want to keep that happy glow that comes from setting a goal and meeting it. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/10-sites-and-apps-to-help-you-track-your-spending-and-stick-to-your-budget?ref=seealso">10 Sites and Apps to Help You Stick to Your Budget</a>)</p>
<p>Spending less and saving more are wonderful goals. It&#39;s totally achievable, although it&#39;s going to take some willpower, and you may need to change some heavily ingrained habits. You&#39;ll feel peer pressure and pressure from retailers who would love nothing more than to see you give up this New Year&#39;s Resolution. Don&#39;t let that stop you and keep your eye on the real prize &mdash; a savings account that helps you feel safe, secure, and confident no matter what life throws your way.</p>
<p><em>How are you planning to spend less and save more this year?</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/christa-avampato">Christa Avampato</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-spend-less-on-everything-in-2014">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-11">
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/16-easy-ways-to-save-100-this-month">16 Easy Ways to Save $100 This Month</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/10-dumb-little-budgeting-mistakes-you-need-to-stop-making-today">10 Dumb Little Budgeting Mistakes You Need to Stop Making Today</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/making-every-penny-count-with-a-zero-based-budget">Making Every Penny Count With A Zero-Based Budget</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/10-ways-to-save-money-when-you-are-unemployed">10 Ways to Save Money When You Are Unemployed</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/build-a-better-budget-in-5-minutes-flat">Build a Better Budget in 5 Minutes Flat</a></span>
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</div> </div><br/></br>BudgetingbudgetsavingspendingTue, 28 Jan 2014 10:48:09 +0000Christa Avampato1116898 at http://www.wisebread.comHow to Resist Lifestyle Creep and Still Have Everything You Wanthttp://www.wisebread.com/how-to-resist-lifestyle-creep-and-still-have-everything-you-want
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<p>Levels of spending on some things seem to automatically go with levels of spending on other things. But there&#39;s no rule that says this has to be true. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/choosing-a-luxury-eccentricity?ref=seealso">Choosing a Luxury Eccentricity</a>)</p>
<h2>Overcoming the Lifestyle Problem</h2>
<p>This is what I call &quot;The Lifestyle Problem.&quot; It&#39;s expensive enough to support yourself and your family, but supporting all those people <em>and </em>a lifestyle? That&#39;s a problem.</p>
<p>Fortunately, the solution is easy: Don&#39;t do it. There is no rule that says certain expenses automatically imply other expenses. You are free to choose luxury in one area while choosing frugality in another. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/8-little-luxuries-that-go-a-long-way?ref=seealso">Little Luxuries That Go a Long Way</a>)</p>
<p>For example, my wife and I have a set of linen sheets to put on our bed in the summertime. They&#39;re two or three times as expensive as cotton &mdash; but they&#39;re luxuriously more comfortable when it&#39;s hot, plus they&#39;re more durable. They might seem incongruous with our cheap apartment and our 23-year-old Honda Civic, but we&#39;re very pleased with the balance we&#39;ve struck.</p>
<h3>Splurge Strategically</h3>
<p>Probably everybody you know does this in a small way &mdash; think of all your friends with perfectly normal budgets, except this one won&#39;t pay more than $12 for a haircut, that one won&#39;t go to movies in the theater, another insists on doing his own yard work (even though he hates it), and so on.</p>
<p>Not so many do this in a big way. In fact, the only place you&#39;re likely to see this idea expressed in full measure is in young bachelors. You can recognize the subtype easily because their apartment is furnished with a recliner chair, a king-sized bed, and no other furniture.</p>
<p>Do you want a fancy sports car, but are perfectly happy living in a cheap apartment? That&#39;s fine. Similarly fine is the reverse: cheap car, but a luxury apartment. Also fine: a cheap car, a cheap apartment, and a glorious annual vacation. You can have a few nice things without having to have <em>all</em> nice things! (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/why-you-should-allow-yourself-splurges?ref=seealso">Why You Should Allow Yourself to Splurge</a>)</p>
<h2>Resisting Lifestyle Creep</h2>
<p>Everybody knows this. And yet, it&rsquo;s deceptively <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/lifestyle-upgrades-beware-the-diderot-effect">easy to upscale all your expense categories</a> in tandem, without even noticing that you&#39;re doing it.</p>
<p>And that&#39;s without considering the social pressures to do this. Just as soon as you start being thoughtful about this &mdash; and not upgrading this or that expense&mdash;you&#39;ll find that everybody and his brother has something to say about it: Why do you have such an old car/such crappy clothes/such a small TV? Why don&#39;t you live in a bigger house/better neighborhood? Why don&#39;t you buy nicer furniture/better wine/a fitness center membership? <em>You can afford it!</em></p>
<p>The unstated assumption of that last sentence is that everyone should spend all their money. There are a lot of people out there who seem pretty determined that nobody subvert that assumption. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/is-peer-pressure-keeping-you-poor?ref=seealso">Is Peer Pressure Keeping You Poor?</a>)</p>
<p>It is possible to resist that social pressure. You can do it just by determination &mdash; in fact, that&#39;s probably the best way &mdash; but here are two tricks that I&#39;ve found help me.</p>
<h3>1. Have a Style</h3>
<p>Just about any style will do. If you have a style, it&#39;s easy to turn down the upgrades that don&#39;t match because, &quot;They&#39;re just not my style.&quot;</p>
<p>Even if you don&#39;t pick a nameable style (bohemian, yuppy, whatever) people will still quickly figure it out &mdash; and will quit suggesting things that don&#39;t match. People don&#39;t tell yuppies that they need to buy a Lincoln Towncar for their commute or bohemians that they need to get designer onesies for the twins, and they&#39;ll be a lot less likely to tell you that you need to spend money on something that doesn&#39;t &quot;go&quot; with the things you do spend money on.</p>
<p>Just be careful not to let the causality go the other way. Just because you&#39;ve decided to go with &quot;preppy&quot; is no reason to upgrade your wardrobe by spending a fortune on Brooks Brothers. (Not that you can&#39;t spend money on Brooks Brothers if you want to, and can afford it.) (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/the-greatest-frugal-fashion-makeover-ever-refresh-your-wardrobe-for-25-or-less?ref=seealso">Refresh Your Wardrobe for $25 or Less</a>)</p>
<h3>2. Embrace the Eccentricity</h3>
<p>Anybody whose spending is different from typical is, in fact, eccentric. Embrace that. Own it. But make it about something that matters to you:</p>
<ul>
<li>You are the person who won&#39;t hire a yard service to get rid of their dandelions because you don&#39;t want herbicides sprayed on your lawn (not because you&#39;re too cheap to spend the money).<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>You&#39;re the person who doesn&#39;t go to movies in the theater because they turn the sound up too darned loud (not because you&#39;re too cheap to buy tickets).<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li>You&#39;re the person who doesn&#39;t eat out because you cook better food than you can get in a restaurant (not because you won&#39;t spring for the check).</li>
</ul>
<p>You can resist the tyranny of social rules to keep all your spending levels nicely lined up. Someone looking at my spending and trying to figure out what my &quot;lifestyle&quot; was would be utterly stymied &mdash; because the only rule my wife and I have is that we pay up for what we really want and spend as little as possible on the rest.</p>
<p><em>How do you resist the temptation to overspend on lifestyle?</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/philip-brewer">Philip Brewer</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-resist-lifestyle-creep-and-still-have-everything-you-want">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-12">
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/16-ways-you-are-causing-road-rage">16 Ways You Are Causing Road Rage</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-the-rich-stay-rich-a-lesson-in-lateral-thinking">How the rich stay rich; a lesson in lateral thinking</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/is-six-figures-really-that-much">Is Six Figures Really That Much?</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/is-living-on-one-income-a-status-symbol">Is living on one income a status symbol?</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/financial-tricks-to-master-for-a-happier-life">Financial Tricks to Master for a Happier Life</a></span>
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</div> </div><br/></br>LifestylebudgetlifestyleTue, 31 Dec 2013 10:49:34 +0000Philip Brewer1104836 at http://www.wisebread.comSave Money and Eat Better With a 7-Step Food Budgethttp://www.wisebread.com/save-money-and-eat-better-with-a-7-step-food-budget
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<p>OK, confession time: I usually eat <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-live-alone-without-going-broke">rather crappy food at home</a>, and I love to go out to restaurants. However, I&#39;ve started really looking at how much money I&#39;m spending on food, especially because I&#39;m always suggesting the <a href="http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/FoodPlans/2013/CostofFoodJul2013.pdf">USDA food budget</a> (PDF) to my clients in my day job. I decided to try that budget myself. Based on the changes I had to make and what I learned, here&#39;s my advice for saving money by cooking at home. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-find-time-for-home-cooked-meals">How to Find Time for Home Cooking</a>)</p>
<h2>1. Take an Inventory and Plan Your Meals</h2>
<p>The first step is to use this <a href="http://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/page/what-you-should-spend">helpful food calculator</a> to plan for how many meals you could realistically eat at home (because we all like to eat out sometimes, and there is nothing wrong with that). Next, make a list of the staples currently in your pantry and build on them. Most likely you have pasta hiding in there and a can or two of tomatoes. Try to build off what you already have before you buy more. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/the-8-best-cooking-apps-to-make-mealtimes-manageable">Best Cooking Apps to Manage Meals</a>)</p>
<h2>2. Buy Fresh, Local Produce</h2>
<p>Go for fresh, local produce rather than grocery store produce from God knows where. And I know, when you hear the words &ldquo;Farmers Market&rdquo; you automatically think everything will be too expensive. But think about this: at a farmers market, the food probably came straight from the source only an hour or so away. At a grocery store, the food might have come from a country far away and be <a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/03/28/how-far-does-your-produce-travel/">a week or more old by the time it reaches your plate</a>. And whether or not the farmer&#39;s market is an option, use <a href="http://shelflifeadvice.com/content/six-tips-extending-shelf-life-foods">this guide</a> to extend the shelf life of your food from wherever you bought it. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/what-not-to-buy-at-a-farmers-market">What NOT to Buy at a Farmers Market</a>)</p>
<h2>3. Buy Staples in Bulk</h2>
<p>If you have a big family, this is a great way to save money. A friend of mine was recently a victim of the recession &mdash; she lost her job through layoffs, lost her house through foreclosure, and was forced to go on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for a few months. She has three children, two with diabetes and one with asthma, and times got tough. She said the only way she made it through it was with a Costco membership. So when you&#39;re planning out your staples, make sure you save at a big store. Just note that if you&#39;re single, buying in bulk can be a bad idea if what you&#39;re buying has an expiration date.</p>
<h2>4. Organize Your Pantry</h2>
<p>My parents often have the trouble of canned or boxed food expiring before they use it. It&#39;s not that they&#39;re wasteful; it&#39;s just that their pantry is too deep and hard to see into. If you have this problem, check out some ideas from the <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen">Container Store</a> or <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/kitchen/">Ikea</a> websites (I don&#39;t mean buy them, but they can inspire great ideas) and dig around on &quot;<a href="http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=organize%20kitchen">organize kitchen</a>&quot; on Pinterest. The Squawkfox has <a href="http://www.squawkfox.com/2012/07/02/pantry/">a helpful chart</a>. And never put something with a short shelf life in the pantry. Always keep it out on the counter to remind you to use it. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-organize-your-pantry-and-save-cash">How to Organize Your Pantry</a>)</p>
<h2>5. Stop Buying So Much Junk Food</h2>
<p>After a strict week of no extra spending, I binged &mdash; I hopped into the grocery store and purchased ice cream, fun-sized candy bars, Oreos, and Little Debbies. I then walked into my apartment and smacked myself in the forehead. I am a believer that chocolate can heal you, so you shouldn&#39;t give it up completely, but buying four different kinds of chocolate at once will not make you feel better. Instead, try allowing yourself on treat per week.</p>
<h2>6. Don&#39;t Bore Yourself</h2>
<p>My biggest problem is that because I make the same meals so often, I usually get bored. I can only eat so many rice dishes, pasta, and frozen meals. And I love all kinds of fun and tasty food, so when I just make the same things over and over, it makes me want to eat out more. So, make sure you keep it interesting; certain flavorful foods can go a long way &mdash; ginger, garlic, basic veggies, spices. Experiment and have fun. <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/cheap_eats">Eating Well</a> has some great suggestions and <a href="http://recipefinder.nal.usda.gov/">the USDA&#39;s website</a> (<em>down while the government funding lapse continues &mdash; Ed.</em>) helps you build cookbooks and recipes based on ingredients.</p>
<h2>7. Save, Save, Save!</h2>
<p>Okay, I don&#39;t mean eat gruel every night and skip breakfast. I mean, really try your best to not overspend on food you don&#39;t need. I&#39;ve read many articles and talked to many clients in my day job about how they grew up poor and now want to make up for that for their family. I completely understand, but if you make more money than you need to spend, save! Spending it to prove you can will not help you in the long run &mdash; and saving will help cover you in case you encounter an emergency like losing your job.</p>
<p><em>What steps do you take to save on food?</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/jennifer-holder">Jennifer Holder</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/save-money-and-eat-better-with-a-7-step-food-budget">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-13">
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/9-cheap-and-healthy-filler-foods">9 Cheap and Healthy Filler Foods</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/cut-100-or-more-from-your-food-bill-without-even-trying">Cut $100 or More From Your Food Bill Without Even Trying</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/the-best-5-credit-cards-for-groceries">The Best 5 Credit Cards for Groceries</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/fresh-fruits-and-vegetables-by-the-month">Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, By the Month</a></span>
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<span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/breaking-the-bread-code-how-to-get-the-freshest-loaf">Breaking the Bread Code: How to Get the Freshest Loaf</a></span>
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</div> </div><br/></br>Food and Drinkbudgetbudgetingfood budgetgroceriespantryMon, 14 Oct 2013 09:48:04 +0000Jennifer Holder1013131 at http://www.wisebread.comBest Money Tips: Fall Trends on a Budgethttp://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-fall-trends-on-a-budget
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<p>Welcome to Wise Bread's <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/topic/best-money-tips">Best Money Tips</a> Roundup! Today we found some great articles on fall trends on a budget, surviving losing your job, and things happy couples do differently.</p>
<h2>Top 5 Articles</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/2013/09/10-fall-trends-on-a-budget/">10 Fall Trends on a Budget</a> &mdash; Beanies and slouchy pants are two fall trends you can get for under $50! [The Centsible Life]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dumblittleman.com/2013/09/how-to-survive-if-you-lose-your-job-and.html">How to Survive If You Lose Your Job And Get On The Road To Finding A New Employment Opportunity</a> &mdash; If you lose your job, consider filing for unemployment and revise your resume. [Dumb Little Man]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/09/12/10-things-happy-couples-do-differently/">10 Things Happy Couples Do Differently</a> &mdash; Happy couples tend to focus on what they like about each other and resolve conflicts through love, not retaliation. [Marc and Angel Hack Life]</p>
<p><a href="http://timemanagementninja.com/2013/09/5-secrets-of-keeping-your-daily-life-in-balance/">5 Secrets of Keeping Your Daily Life in Balance</a> &mdash; To keep balance in your daily life, protect yourself from overload and know your priorities. [Time Management Ninja]</p>
<p><a href="http://onecentatatime.com/importance-health-insurance-why-we-need/">Why do We Need Health Insurance</a> &mdash; Having health insurance can save you from financial disaster should something go terribly wrong with your health. [One Cent At A Time]</p>
<h2>Other Essential Reading</h2>
<p><a href="http://moneyqanda.com/save-money-on-your-mobile-phone-bill/">How To Save Money On Your Mobile Phone Bill</a> &mdash; Using apps to save money can help you save on your monthly phone bill. [Money Q&amp;A]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.narrowbridge.net/take-an-account-inventory/">Take an Account Inventory</a> &mdash; Take some time to figure out all your different financial accounts and determine whether or not you can close any of them. [NarrowBridge Finance]</p>
<p><a href="http://lifehacker.com/how-can-i-improve-my-listening-skills-1333981305">How Can I Improve My Listening Skills?</a> &mdash; To improve your listening skills, watch the speaker's body language and look invested. [Lifehacker]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/How-Organize-Summer-Clothes-25474572">Fall: The Perfect Time to Organize Your Clothes</a> &mdash; Now that fall is here, take some time to store your summer clothes until the weather gets warm again. [PopSugar Smart Living]</p>
<p><a href="http://parentingsquad.com/5-ways-to-keep-kids-busy-without-tv">5 Ways to Keep Kids Busy Without TV</a> &mdash; Keep your kids busy without the help of TV by giving them arts and crafts to do. [Parenting Squad]</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ashley-jacobs">Ashley Jacobs</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-fall-trends-on-a-budget">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-14">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Stylebest money tipsbudgetclothesfallshoppingtrendsThu, 19 Sep 2013 10:24:15 +0000Ashley Jacobs988366 at http://www.wisebread.comBest Money Tips: Healthy Eating on a Budgethttp://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-healthy-eating-on-a-budget
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<p>Welcome to Wise Bread's <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/topic/best-money-tips">Best Money Tips</a> Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on eating healthy on a budget, creating a work-friendly wardrobe, and getting closer to your dreams.</p>
<h2>Top 5 Articles</h2>
<p><a href="http://bargainbabe.com/10-tips-for-healthy-eating-on-a-budget/">10 Tips for Healthy Eating on a Budget</a> &mdash; If you want to eat healthy on a budget, eat more grains and beans. [Bargain Babe]</p>
<p><a href="http://lifehacker.com/how-can-i-create-a-work-friendly-wardrobe-on-a-budget-825337978">How Can I Create a Work-Friendly Wardrobe on a Budget?</a> &mdash; To create a work-friendly wardrobe without breaking the bank, invest in quality pieces you will wear regularly. [Lifehacker]</p>
<p><a href="http://timemanagementninja.com/2013/07/19-steps-to-get-closer-to-your-dreams/">19 Steps to Get Closer to Your Dreams</a> &mdash; Being the early bird and learning a new skill can help you get closer to your dreams. [Time Management Ninja]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fatwallet.com/blog/is-it-worth-keeping-your-old-car/">Is It Worth Keeping Your Old Car?</a> &mdash; When deciding whether or not to keep your old car, take into consideration car payments and insurance expenses.[FatWallet.com]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.carefulcents.com/invest-in-yourself/">5 Life-Changing Ways to Invest in Yourself and See Big Returns</a> &mdash; Invest in yourself by saving some cash and getting a business coach. [Careful Cents]</p>
<h2>Other Essential Reading</h2>
<p><a href="http://financialhighway.com/the-hidden-costs-of-job-hunting/">The Hidden Costs of Job Hunting</a> &mdash; When you are looking for a job, be prepared for transportation and wardrobe expenses. [Financial Highway]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dumblittleman.com/2013/07/are-fees-and-charges-draining-your-bank.html">Are Fees And Charges Draining Your Bank Account? Use These Tips To Save Money at the Bank.</a> &mdash; Monitoring your accounts and declining unwanted extras can help you save money at the bank. [Dumb Little Man]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/Surprising-Things-Cause-Stress-31010213">7 Surprising Things You Didn't Know Were Stressing You Out</a> &mdash; Did you know that booze and venting can make you feel stressed out? [PopSugar Smart Living]</p>
<p><a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/07/19/5-ways-to-get-everything-you-truly-need/">5 Ways to Get Everything You Truly Need</a> &mdash; Dedicating your time to meaningful work will help you get everything you truly need. [Marc and Angel Hack Life]</p>
<p><a href="http://parentingsquad.com/node/2335">6 Tips to Turn Toddler's &quot;I Can't&quot; Into &quot;I Can&quot;</a> &mdash; If you want to turn your toddler's &quot;I can't&quot; into &quot;I cans,&quot; keep things simple and keep them focused. [Parenting Squad]</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ashley-jacobs">Ashley Jacobs</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/best-money-tips-healthy-eating-on-a-budget">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-15">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Food and Drinkbest money tipsbudgeteatinghealthyThu, 25 Jul 2013 10:00:31 +0000Ashley Jacobs980833 at http://www.wisebread.com